New Student House – New Risks!
Around this time of year many students are heading off to university for the first time and others are returning after the summer holidays. Whilst a considerable number of first year students will be staying in university accommodation many others will be renting from private landlords.
University life should be a most enjoyable and worthwhile experience but there is the inevitable risks that come with renting a property.
“They are only students; the state of the property doesn’t matter”
The risks that come with renting a property are something that applies to all tenants whether students or not and whether the landlord is a private individual or a local authority or housing association. Landlords have a legal duty to ensure that their property is maintained and in a decent state for a tenant to live in. Just because a student may be living away from home in a rented property for the first time a landlord still has a duty to ensure that they are safe in the property. The attitude of “they are only students; the state of the property doesn’t matter” is simply unacceptable and could see landlords being in breach of their legal obligations.
Accidents can be caused by all different types of housing disrepair and failure on the part of the landlord. The following are common causes of injury within rented accommodation:
• Faulty gas or electrical supply to the property
• Faulty gas appliances
• Heating or boiler problems
• Rotting or poorly fitted windows
• Damp
• Flooding
• Trip or fall hazards
Find Out More About: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Find Out More About: Claiming Compensation For Bed Bug Bites
It is advisable for any tenant to contact Bartletts Solicitors for advice if they have been injured due to the state of rented accommodation. Bartletts operate on a No-Win No-Fee basis and a client will have nothing to pay win or lose (we claim our costs from your opponent if your claim is successful and we write off our costs if you are unsuccessful).
Mr Andrews
Mr Andrews, who was a student living in shared rented accommodation, was exposed to carbon monoxide gas due to a faulty gas fire in his bedroom. He suffered with headaches, nausea, feelings of collapse and irregular behaviour. He went on to make a full recovery.
Mr Andrews contacted Bartletts and they acted on a No Win No Fee basis. He received £3,600.00 for his injury due to exposure to the gas.
Mr Andrews’ landlord had a duty to keep any gas appliance regularly maintained by a Gas Safe Register engineer. The landlord had a duty to provide the tenants with a copy of the gas safety record following the annual safety check.
Miss Welsh
Miss Welsh was living in rented accommodation and was exposed to damp, airborne dust and mould due to the state of the property. She lived in the property for 6 months and suffered with an exacerbation of her pre-existing asthma.
Miss Welsh contacted Bartletts and was represented on a No Win No Fee basis. She received £1,300.00 for the exacerbation of her asthma.
Contact Bartletts for free initial advice
Your student days should hopefully be extremely fulfilling both socially and in terms of your studies. If you are, however, unfortunately injured as a result of the state of the rented property that you are living in you should not hesitate to contact Bartletts where you will have access to free initial advice on whether you have a claim. If you do have a successful claim you will receive 100% of the compensation that you are legally entitled to.
